AI Engineer I — TS/SCI w/poly clearance

CyberTrend Engineering • Annapolis Junction, MD

21h

About The Position

CyberTrend is seeking an AI/ML Engineer to build, train, fine-tune, evaluate, deploy, and improve machine-learning models, particularly language models for natural language processing. The position works across the model-development lifecycle and collaborates with cross-functional teams to translate customer and business requirements into scalable technical solutions. The role requires an active TS/SCI clearance with an in-scope polygraph within the past seven years.

The engineer applies expertise in model architecture, data pipelines, metrics, evaluation, and model lifecycle practices such as training, retraining, deployment, scheduling, monitoring, and iterative improvement. The position also contributes to full-stack AI applications and production integration, including cloud-based deployments, and may provide system-integration oversight. The posting describes occasional on-call support as a plus and notes that limited telework—up to 16 hours per week—may be available after acclimation and training, depending on mission needs and leadership discretion.

CyberTrend is a technology provider serving defense projects and programs, government agencies, the intelligence community, and defense contractors. The company was formed in 2010 and has partnerships including AWS and IBM.

Requirements

• Active TS/SCI clearance with an in-scope polygraph within the past seven years.
• Two years of applied machine-learning experience on programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity.
• Bachelor’s degree in advanced mathematics, computer science, or a related STEM discipline from an accredited college or university; alternatively, three additional years of machine-learning experience on projects with similar machine-learning processes may substitute for the degree.
• Knowledge and experience with language models.
• Experience building, training, fine-tuning, and evaluating machine-learning models, including NLP models.
• Proficiency with AI/ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or Hugging Face.
• Expertise in model training, evaluation, and deployment.
• Hands-on experience with AWS tools such as SageMaker, Lambda, EC2, and S3.
• Experience developing full-stack software applications using technologies such as JavaScript, Python, or Java.
• Strong coding skills and a solid understanding of data structures, algorithms, and system design.
• Experience with model evaluation, optimization, and performance monitoring.
• Ability to work with ML libraries and packages and run standard test and evaluation protocols.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, and effective communication and collaboration abilities.

Nice To Haves

• Specific experience with Marian and multilingual model development.
• Knowledge of computational linguistics.
• Experience with open-source model libraries, Deep Learning Containers, GPU technologies, and optimization or tuning.
• Strong Java, C, and C++ programming experience.
• Willingness to support occasional on-call duties.
• Experience working in a government or defense-related environment.
• Experience with model versioning and management tools such as MLflow or Git.
• Familiarity with containerization tools such as Kubernetes.
• Experience with secure data handling and compliance requirements.
• Experience working with large language models.

Responsibilities

• Select appropriate datasets and perform statistical analysis.
• Build, train, fine-tune, and retrain machine-learning models, particularly language models.
• Apply machine-learning algorithms and use results to improve models.
• Apply best practices in model training, tuning, and optimization; design solutions to improve model performance.
• Evaluate models through testing, benchmarking, performance analysis, error analysis, debugging, and diagnostics.
• Deploy and scale models using cloud-based AI platforms, especially AWS SageMaker, and integrate models into production systems.
• Contribute to front-end and back-end development and maintenance for AI model-based applications.
• Collaborate with software engineers to build scalable deployment pipelines.
• Provide system-integration oversight and work across the model development lifecycle.
• Work with data scientists, product teams, engineers, and other stakeholders to translate requirements into technical solutions.
• Document workflows, model-design processes, and technical specifications.
• Apply metrics and feedback to monitor and iteratively improve models.
• Potentially lead geographically diverse teams and serve as a primary point of contact for AI-related matters.

Benefits

• Competitive paid time off scaled based on time in service.
• Eleven paid annual holidays.
• CyberTrend pays 100% of the cost of the medical base plan, dental, vision, disability, life, and employee assistance program benefits for full-time employees.
• Employer contribution of 10% of monthly gross salary to a non-contributory SEP-IRA, with no vesting period and employee ownership and management of the account.
• Educational assistance of up to $5,250 annually for approved work-related activities.
• Training assistance of up to $3,000 annually for approved work-related activities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level